A blog designed to facilitate communication about education, teaching, schools, labor issues, social justice, politics and ordinary life. Statements or expressions of opinions herein 'do not' represent the views or official positions of DCPS, American Federation of Teachers, Washington Teachers' Union or its members. Views are my own. Anyone who claims otherwise is violating the spirit and purpose of this blog.

6 Pages

Dec 18, 2008

DC's Unprincipled Principals

"The greatest threat to America is not communist aggression, nuclear warfare nor oil embargo. The greatest threat is a public education system that has abandoned the principles on which America was founded." ~ Paul Harvey

A 'hit list' is a list of people or programs to be acted against or disposed of as defined by dictionary.com. This was the subject of the WTU Delegate Assembly's Tuesday meeting. Some union members pointed out that the 90-day termination plan is an 'important topic' that needs to be discussed at another time so that union business could be conducted. Of course this did not happen and teachers' union President Parker facilitated the discussion about the 90-day termination plan which took center stage for hours until the meeting ended. Unfortunately, the Delegate Assembly did not get to any other items on the agenda.

What is interesting to note is that WTU President George Parker revealed that Chancellor Rhee's office has refused to provide the names and work sites of any DC Teachers on the 90- day termination plan to the Washington Teachers' Union as required. As a result, the WTU is only aware of 50 teachers who have been placed on 90-day termination plans but suspects that many more have been targeted.

On Tuesday evening, union members told horror stories of principals regularly interviewing DC students about their respective teachers in exchange for bribes of candy. While others told a story of a DC principal rating all teachers as either 'traditional teachers' or 'non-traditional teachers' on structured observations with traditional teachers being given lower performance ratings then their non-traditional teacher colleagues without explanation. Yet another discussed a situation in which a DC principal lied about who actually performed his structured observation. Another teacher reported that a principal lied on a teacher who presented their lesson plans stating they were non-existent. Stories abound of DC teachers not receiving promised interventions and supports.

How many city-wide teachers have been placed on the 90-day termination plans ? You tell me. If you know of an 'unprincipled DC principal' who is falsifying PPEP documents, discriminating against veteran teachers or younger teachers, minority teachers or committing fraudulent acts- send your unprincipled principal story to me: c/o saveourcounselors@gmail.com and I will post it here on The Washington Teacher. Anonymity of sender guaranteed. Feel free to include the name of the school and the name of the principal.

Whether you believe DC teachers should be terminated or not, all teachers are entitled to 'due process' and representation under the law. If you know of a DC Teacher on a 90-day plan, and/or a needs improvement plan - you should encourage him/her to contact the WTU as soon as possible @ 202-293-8600. When contacting the WTU, request to speak with your assigned field representative. (Posted by The Washington Teacher).

29 comments:

Old School DCPS A Traditional Teacher
said...

Bless you, Candi for taking up this most important cause which is on so many teachers' minds!! Again, no one's talking, but I believe there's a quota for principals to have placed teachers on the 90 day plan. How does at least 3 per building sound? My school is rather small, didn't make AYP and I think there are 3 teachers in it who are on 90 days. Good traditional teaching, when done effectively, continues to result in student learning and has for generations. Traditional teachers also incorporate new ideas that are sound and not just the latest fashion.

My observation was insane the Assistant principal who signed myobservation wasn't present for a large part of the infromation that was in the final document so obviously she didn't write it.I have a witness. I went from 6 exceed expectations and 5 meet expectations to 13 out of 17 needs improvement or unsatisfactory in less than 65 school days. Our school made AYP and I have the best test scores among other things. We were also named as one of the top elementary schools on the high bar by the Washingtonpost last week. The thing I did do criticise Ms. Rhee publicly. Bye Bye DCPS. Hello someone's court room.

The blog police does not take off for typos, only for grammar and spelling. Plus, criticise with an s instead of a z is British spelling, not traditionally American. And girl, going from 6 exceeds and 5 meets to needs improvement or unsatisfacory sounds just like what it is: payback for publically criticizing Rhee. BTW, could parents be after you, as some of the higher performing schools have overactive parents? Just a thought.

what's the union gonna do after they find out who is on the list... what does it matter? Will they help the teacher and how? Has Rhee even explained what happens to the teacher after the 90 days is up?

Old School Traditional ! Yes in deed ! After this NCLB and Rhee reform ? Say you're an educational reformer and everybody is going to run ! I agree and God bless that Candi !Please send to all the Senators and news !Please ! Unleash it and go ! You need the fax numbers, we got it ! Fire 1 !It's a hit ! Butter bing butter bang !The mayors in all the cities may want to know too ! They're thinking get rid of the Unions and put the mayor in charge? Say what ? They got it going on in DC and Chicago.Just let the mayors run the city and we'll stick with the educational superintendents. They're not so bad anymore ! We want to keep them ! Please DC teachers make sure you get that lady Rhee's broom.

Thanks for the words of encouragement fellow bloggers. Teachers need to understand that is not an 90 intervention plan This is a 90 Day termination plan. Prinicpal's already have some of your final observations with 3 needs improvements and 3 unsats ready to go, termination letter coming later. Of course some will be saved, they were only on the plan to camouflage for the real people princpal's wanted to get rid of. Blog police good watching out earlier Love Ya.

To Anonymous: The WTU is working with teachers on the 90 day plan. Teachers should contact their WTU Field Representatives for a meeting ASAP. Presently the Field Representatives are reviewing teachers documents and meeting with them individually to address their individual cases. In addition, the WTU Attorney is reviewing these cases as well.

It's okay, "Heard From Me Again" and stay in the saddle and lean with the trees ! These Rhee mandates appear to be creating a discriminatory effect ! Hard to trust if the evaluation is objective. Get all your test scores and ask for instructional accountability results if you don't have it. DCPS Rhee reform needs to be re-thinking effective remedies before there is a class action law suit and you guys need to report this !

So much for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 under NCLB and 10% for equality. Constitutional Basis Article 1, Section 6 doesn't appear to be working anymore for collective bargaining and the educational reformer!

So right you are, Hear From Me (I admit, I signed on as Blog Police, but have retired from that position). It's not a 90 intervention plan; it's a 90 termination plan. That has always been its objective, a big part of Rhee's Plan B. It's her way to get teachers principals believe to be ineffective out the door by the end of this school year and not come back in August. I'm sure I'm naive, but I think teachers like you who have the excellent evaluations (and certainly other proofs) can fight this thing. Unfortunately, it's going to be stressful and time-consuming. Time that can be used to create lessons for the students, get them ready for testing, and live one's life.

Old School DCPS: The problem is that teachers who are not ineffective- may have to lose their jobs and fight unjust terminations while being unemployed. Once you are placed on this 90 day termination plan, it cannot be legally stopped is my understanding. Can you imagine ?

Of course we can also pursue another approrach other than just going through the courts. Any ideas ?

So this is to say that most teachers on the 90 day plan now will be terminated, unless the case against an individual teacher can get thrown out for a procedural or timeline failure commited by a principal?

I have been told that hundreds of teachers are on the 90 day plan. I believe most will make it through. DCPS will allow a high amount of teachers to improve enough to get off plan. They are fully aware their scheme will be challenged in court. The real targets of the school system such as myself must formulate other plans to fight. Prinicpal's knows Rhee is not planning to assist teachers so there using the process to settle old petty scores. This process is just a publicity stunt for our "celebrity" chancellor.

Once again Blog police I hit the publish button instead of the edit button. If I was being observed that mistake would have earned me at least two unsatisfacts. Blog police do you have a intervention court; I need help. You've already given me more assistance than I've recieved on the 90 day plan.

We need the "four fifths rule" for 1 & 1 unfair labor practices, see 50 FLRA no.40. Uh oh ! "Rudolph with your nose so bright guide us through this storm tonight." We need some peace and academic unison. Is the 14th Amendment working ? Please tell me it's not out of order but the copy machines in the school buildings are working when teachers are on action plans.

These deals will make you memorize educational law. What is happening ? See instructional accountability,GS 115C-321 and get the procedural violations and disorganization operationally straightened out and stabilized. We don't do discrimination in public education well ! Set Rhee’s broom on fire! Discrimination is not allowed !

Or,you fight it and get the "agreement and release" and entire agreement between the parties with terms as expressly set forth herein. SWORN TO AND subscribed before...! Ha ! No,we're not doing discrimination of which is capricious and arbitrary of which can be proved.

I was speaking to a friend who teaches in another school. She mentioned to me that there were 3 teachers, all over 50, on the 90 day plan at her school. At my school, exactly the same thing: 3 teachers, all over 50, on 90 days. (Neither she nor I are on it.) The principals aren't talking about it, probably instructed not to. Is there a pattern, a profile, a quota? Three teachers per school, especially smaller schools, more for high school? Make sure older teachers are on it, they're probably burned out? What do y'll think or know about this?

Does anyone actually know for sure that there is a quota for principals to put on a 90 day plan? I've heard this rumored all over the blogs, but everyone I know in administration says its just a rumor (of course, they could be lying... but I generally trust my administrators). I've asked before on this blog, but didn't see a response.

Also, in response to Anon at 1:08, could it be that maybe the teachers that were put on 90 day plans actually were burned out? Obviously I don't know the teachers or the situations, but I know at my own school there are several older teachers who are obviously just riding it out until retirement (there are also several older teachers who are amazing, and continuously make miraculous progress with our kids). Again, I can only speak for my school. But, I've heard of several teachers being put on 90 day plans, and for all of them I've thought "yeah, that teacher doesn't seem to work that hard, and kids say he/she doesn't teach." Just want to remind everyone to keep an open mind to the possibility that some teachers really shouldn't be in the classroom.

This is unreal and shocking ! So much for a solution generating confidence buiding system. It's got me so upset, I'm having to pray yo keep a sense of humor. "Constructive discharge" and "wrongfully discharged" ? Sounds like, power tripping and discriminating. How to be calm,strong and confident when dealing with a difficult boss and create the results you want."Throw the water Dorthy",said the Tin Man.How's the tension in the school buildings and bet you can cut it with a sord and who picks up on that ?

Mr. Potter ! Don't take off before researching and reading the procedural violations all identified on this blog. Among other procedural violations and operational disorganization. Now a principal from Patterson ES resigns and doesn't want to be a part of these unethical practices. See the entries on this blog about what the principal at Patterson told her staff. See Loose Lips in The Washington City Paper and connect for another report on Rhee reform. Mr. Potter search for truth. Read Manufactured Crisis ! We don't allow discrimination in public education to push any agenda and this situation is being investigated for facts and truth !

I was the anonymous teacher who posted about the 3 teachers per school, all over 50. I did not comment on the teaching performance of those teachers at my school, nor at my friend's. I was only mentioning what may be a patterrn, 3 teachers on the plan in both schools, all over 50 (some actually over 60). Several teachers in both schools I was discussing, mine and my friend's, have good solid teachers over 50. They consistently receive high meets or exceeds on their evaluations, as well as teachers of all ages. Those teachers are not on the 90 day plan.I really can't say much about the teachers on the 90 plan in my school, except to say that no one gasped when we heard their names whispered. None of my fellow teachers said, oh she does such a good job with writers' workshop or his social studies projects are excellent. No one was convinced that these individuals were singled out for any specific reason other than their teaching, as observed by our principal. He may be overwhelmed with the job of running a school, going from problem to situation back to crisis, but he does not appear vindictive. I don't know if those teachers on the plan are burned out, or just plain ineffective. There has been talk about them for years. If they are removed from the classroom following a correctly followed procedure, my school may benefit. Or not.

In response to Mr. Potter: Of course your administration would say its a rumor. I would expect no less particularly in this climate where principals are being fired at the drop of a hat. If you have been reading the DC Wire blog on The Washington Post site- Bill Turque wrote an article in which he states that Rhee plans on firing another batch of principals this school year.I bet DC principals are waiting with baited breath to see who gets the boot.

If you regularly read my blog I posted an entry about the Patterson ES principal who resigned recently because she was being requested to lie on 90 day plans, etc. She shared this with her staff after she submitted her resignation stating her reasons for leaving are due to the fact that does not want to be a part of these unethical practices. I also know an acting administrator who attended a meeting in which DC administrators were encouraged to place a quota of their teachers on a 90-day termination plan.

If someone is guilty of theft or fraud or is aware that such practices are being committed- do we really expect them to willingly confess?

We have 10 retired superintendents investigating this Rhee reform from our state. How many do the other states have ? Something is operationally and proceedually off the hook in all this Rhee reform. Know what ya don't know at the top ! Round them up !You're not riding alone DC teachers !

Stick with the facts! Focus! We'll tear the rumors and gossip up. To heck with the speculation and let the attorney general investigate. Send it to the OEA and have them evaluate. You can lose your license for unethical practices and discriminatory intent. Doubt the elem. principal at Patterson resigned is making it up as she goes along with an administrative degree.

John Quincy Adams- "Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for tis better to be alone than in bad company." George Washington - "It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time, you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you can't fool all the people all the time." Abraham Lincoln-"When you hear the hounds keep going!

Now the administrators are riding in and the good ones will take the jump to investigate. The OEA will see facts and so will the lawyer, judge and attorney general. The DC council will know! We do not allow discriminatory intent effects in Public Education and don't care what you're political agenda is or contractual proposed agreement. This is our 14th Amendment and the United States of America! These are our children and our federal laws and constitution! The bargaining sessions involve a complicated process of give and take through which each side must evaluate the other side's demands and decide which issues to compromise.

Who is on the action plan under Rhee's reform and proposed contract? Who is a target? Go read Louis Fisher, David Scheme and Leslie R.Stellman today! Seventh Edition! Teachers and The Law! It gets deeper in other books but if you don't have that one DC teachers go buy it! Under Pl 107-110 see all the research in reauthorization currently being evaluated. Please add these results evaluating DC Rhee's reform to the list of concerns. Where is the published audit on Rhee reform for public accountability?

My Dad named me Candi with an i. Thank God for him ;--) Otherwise you'd be calling me Markie. What was my Mom thinking? Luv her anyway. My parents Lish (like delicious) & Clif. Gram, Pap, Mommie Ella & Bush. My grandparents had a profound influence & impact on my life. I miss & love them immensely. If my parents hadn't been my parents I would have wanted them to be my friends. They are such "cool" people. At the very least they would both be on my party invitation list if we weren't related.
I'm thankful for the love of my family. Because of the love & support of my family & favor from God, I was destined for really great things.